If
the cops show up, and you don't want them to catch you doing anything
illegal, then we recommend that you don't do
anything illegal. Here's some ways to avoid common party no-no's.

Serving
Alcohol

You
aren't allowed to sell alcohol unless you have a liquor license. But,
there are many ways you can have a party and include alcohol.

Buy
the alcohol yourself, and provide it free of charge to your guests,
no questions asked, except age. This means someone should be positioned
at the keg or bar checking ID's and making sure you're not going to
get your party broken up due to a Minor in Possession (MIP) arrest in
association with your party.

Buy
the alcohol with others and provide it free of charge, no questions
asked, except for age. You can collect money before the purchase
and therefore buy the alcohol as a "representative" of the
group. For example, have a party consisting of your biology class, or
your bowling team. At the gathering previous to the party (class, practice),
send around a hat, collecting money for the alcohol. This is perfectly
legal.

Buy
the alcohol yourself, provide the alcohol for free, but ask for voluntary
donations along with age. However, now you're starting to tread
on shaky ground. Donation has to be voluntary and look voluntary. You
cannot make payment a criterion for drinking. It's best to set up a
donation table in a different room, away from the keg or bar.

Checking
ID's

If
the cops show up, and you're providing alcohol to your guests, you should
be able to show that you are checking ID's. If you don't check ID's, and
the cops find a drunk minor at your party, then you could get charged
for serving alcohol to a minor. Here are two methods of checking ID's.

Check
ID's at the door. Set up a stool at the entrance of the party and
make sure that minors don't enter your house. This way you have less
to worry about as far as who's inside. If you have multiple entrances,
set up multiple stools. Use a marking system - a permanent marker or
a unique stamp work the best.

Check
ID's at the keg. This way, anyone may be at the party, but only
those who are over 21 have access to alcohol. Again, use a marking system
so that you don't need to check ID's every time someone wants a drink.

Minors
in possession

If
you're under 21 years old, then you're not allowed to drink alcohol. But,
no matter how old you are, or whether you've been drinking, according
to Michigan law, cops can ask you to take a breathalyzer test whenever
they think that you are a minor who has been drinking. If you are a minor,
and you blow anything higher than .02 (which is roughly equivalent to
one alcoholic drink) then you get a ticket for MIP.

The
ACLU of Michigan believes this is unconstitutional because it allows officers
to give breathalyzer tests without warrants to people who are
not under arrest. If this happens to you, get free advice about your
legal options by contacting the ACLU of Michigan at (313)961-4662 (aclu@aclumich.org)

You
can also get a MIP if you admit to drinking and you look like you've been
drinking (slurred speech, poor coordination, etc). You can also get a
MIP if you are a minor carrying an open or unopened container of alcohol.
Even a seemingly empty container that only has alcohol residue in it counts.
And, don't try to outsmart the cops by putting your vodka in a Sprite
bottlethey know all the tricks.

Open
intoxicants

If
you are carrying an open container of alcohol on public property, then you
can get ticketed. "Public property" means anything outside your
property line. If, after a house party, you fall asleep on the yard with
a beer in your hand, and your foot creeps out onto the sidewalk, then you
can get an open intoxicant ticket. Cops have been known to lie in wait for
these opportunities. Again, even a seemingly empty container that only has
alcohol residue in it counts.

Urinating
in public

If
you gotta go, you gotta go, but you can't urinate in view of the public.
If passers-by can see you, then you'll get in trouble even if you're on
your property.